‘24 vs. ‘23

[dennismenace]

All he did was ask the question. I think this team has a chance to become our best team ever if they stay healthy the rest of the season.

I agree. They have a much more flexible and consistent offense (Spencer) and, as has recently been shown, capable of playing very good D when properly motivated. Just stay healthy and keep developing the freshman (Castle, Ball and Stewart). They are reducing the number of turnovers which also indicates less mental mistakes.

 

[Scoe]

Hey question I have without looking it up. Is the 2010-11 team the last to start 17-2 or better?

Without even looking it up I say no question. I’m sure the 2010-11 team started 18-2.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Lolz, Newton is way better than Taliek. They play different positions but Cam is also a better player than Taliek.

Better ball handlers? You removed the context. Taliek is the best ball handler of the four, by far, and Ben is the next best.

 

[boog204]

I think 23 beats 24 nine times out of ten. The three missing starters from last years team, imo, are all better than their replacements. I LOVE Spencer but Hawkins is better and tourney Hawkins was an absolute assassin. AJax brought far more to the table than Castle and Amida was a dominant inside player and DC/Samson are not there, yet. Then factor in that last year's bench was more consistent and explosive with DC and Alleyne and, just for added emphasis, the 23 team's starting 5 was more athletic than this year's team which results in far too many guys getting beat off the dribble for layups. It's partly systemic, but I don't remember us struggling so much with athletic guards last year as we are this year.

 

[microfich]

If last year’s Huskies played the current Storrs Five, what would the final score be?

Some great posts, here.

I'll take the question as can 24 win the whole thing and if so would they beat 23 as a team? Easier than imagining Karaban, Clingan and Newton guarding themselves.

+1: 24. Holdovers are even better now.
+1: 23. Dependability with Sanogo, Hawkins spotlighted so important at tournament time. 24 has contenders and performers every night but we rely on the system more. So far so good but will it be enough every night?
+1: 23. Bench play with Joey and Nahiem as option 4s far superior to Ball and Stewart. Diarra creeping up, though.
0: 24 offensive scheme/flow better than 23 but that wouldn't have worked for 23 as Sanogo low was primary.
0: Castle is special and is comparable to Andre in some ways good and bad as the 5 option. He will be the reason 24 goes all the way or not and will move the needle closer toward 24 as the 23 vs. 24 winner if he finds ways to score.

23 ultimately wins 82-77 because they had a big game deadeye in Hawkins who could run over, under, around and through and find his slot.
24 will need to develop a way to spring Cam similarly, for the bench to deliver results beyond C and get points out of Castle.

 

[imno1]

I think 23 beats 24 nine times out of ten. The three missing starters from last years team, imo, are all better than their replacements. I LOVE Spencer but Hawkins is better and tourney Hawkins was an absolute assassin. AJax brought far more to the table than Castle and Amida was a dominant inside player and DC/Samson are not there, yet. Then factor in that last year's bench was more consistent and explosive with DC and Alleyne and, just for added emphasis, the 23 team's starting 5 was more athletic than this year's team which results in far too many guys getting beat off the dribble for layups. It's partly systemic, but I don't remember us struggling so much with athletic guards last year as we are this year.

Are we comparing last year’s full season to this year’s partial one? I think it’s too early to evaluate. Suppose this year’s team wins the title and doesn’t lose or only has 1 or 2 more loses the rest of the way? Would that sway anyone’s opinion?

 

[boog204]

Are we comparing last year’s full season to this year’s partial one? I think it’s too early to evaluate. Suppose this year’s team wins the title and doesn’t lose or only has 1 or 2 more loses the rest of the way? Would that sway anyone’s opinion?

Fair point and yes, I'm comparing last year's full season and us at our absolute best to what we've seen thus far this season... To answer your question, I would be surprised if/when we win it this year if we would be as dominant as last year's squad even if we have a team with fewer losses.

 

[CL82]

I think the Newton Cam backcourt is better than the Taliek Gordon backcourt.

I don't know. I think you have to give the athleticism nod to the Taliek Gordon backcourt. Taliek was an enormously quick player. I think that would bother Newton considerably. Gordon was such an athletic and strong guy. I don't think Cam can guard him and I think Cam would struggle to get a shot off.

 

[superjohn]

Better ball handlers? You removed the context. Taliek is the best ball handler of the four, by far, and Ben is the next best.

I misread your last sentence. I thought you were saying they were both better than either guy this year. I missed that you were talking about ball handling.

 

[gtcam]

Andre and Castle are a wash? Would love it if Castle could rain 3's like Hawkins (all due respect to the ONE Castle actually hit last night). And Hawkins could actually finish at the rim. Defensively, Castle is tough and he rebounds well. Another year or two at UConn and maybe his shooting and offensive game reach Hawkin's level.

So not even close offensively:
You are aware that Hawk's 1st name is Jordan and not Andre???
Luv Hawk - I was one of the 1st to introduce him to this board 4 years ago, however, Castle is a different type of offensive player than Hawk. Castle is more geared to the overall NBA game.
Castle has not hit his perimeter shots but Hawk couldn't even get to the rim at this comparable stage of his freshman year. Castle also hit a big 3 vs Creighton and a few others in January so it is more than ONE - all due respect.
1st 8 NBE game comparative - 3 pt shooting Freshman year
JH - 7/24 - .292
SC - 4/17 - .235

 

[Iluvsuebird]

Absolutely, Sanogo is the key difference, also last year's team was deeper. Non-starters last year were Clingan, Joey and Alleyne, who were much more potent than Johnson, Solo and Stewart. But Sanogo was an unstoppable beast who would always give you 15 - 20 points a game, and UConn will miss him more than anything this year. Defensively, I give the nod to last year's squad too, the main difference is Spencer's limited defensive ability (offensivly he is massive). And I sometimes think Andre and Stephon are a wash, but I'm less sure about that conclusion.

Sanogo DOES NOT score 15-20 points against Clingan. Sorry. Not happening.

 

[Mr. French]

As soon as Clingan has to play against Clingan, the world will explode.

 

[Mr. French]

And turned it over a lot more. If stats are your thing it's really not going to go too well for you arguing Taliek and Ben over Tristen and Cam.

This is incredibly boring though.

You’re taking college Newton over college Ben? Just curious I love both. I wouldn’t.

 

[superjohn]

You’re taking college Newton over college Ben? Just curious I love both. I wouldn’t.

No, as an overall backcourt I'm taking '23-24 Tristen and Cam over '03-04 Taliek and Ben. I'm not taking into account who had the most upside, NBA talent etc.

I think Ben was the best out of the bunch but I don't think the gap is huge. I think Taliek is the worst out of the group and I think he lags behind significantly.

 

[Mr. French]

No, as an overall backcourt I'm taking '23-24 Tristen and Cam over '03-04 Taliek and Ben. I'm not taking into account who had the most upside, NBA talent etc.

I think Ben was the best out of the bunch but I don't think the gap is huge. I think Taliek is the worst out of the group and I think he lags behind significantly.

Fair. Probably agree. But maybe you’re remembering Talieks warts a bit heavier than his qualities. I overall agree though.

 

[HuskyHawk]

No, as an overall backcourt I'm taking '23-24 Tristen and Cam over '03-04 Taliek and Ben. I'm not taking into account who had the most upside, NBA talent etc.

I think Ben was the best out of the bunch but I don't think the gap is huge. I think Taliek is the worst out of the group and I think he lags behind significantly.

It honestly depends on what the team needs. We have a tough defender and rebounder who distributes at the SF position. That team had a lights out shooter in Anderson and another shooter/rebounder in Brown. So this team needs the shooting at PG, that team really needed the defense and toughness Taliek brought. He averaged 6.5 assists a game, because he had scorers to distribute to. Taliek with Castle at the 3? No Thanks. But Cam + Tristen with Anderson at the 3? Defensive catastrophe.

In short, each backcourt is a better fit with the rest of the guys they played with, and that's good coaching.

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

Hey question I have without looking it up. Is the 2010-11 team the last to start 17-2 or better?

Yes.
Unless I've made a careless error, it looks like 'only' (!) '94, '95, '96, '99, '06, and '09 got their 18th win before their 2nd.

 

[mauconnfan]

Yes.
Unless I've made a careless error, it looks like 'only' (!) '94, '95, '96, '99, '06, and '09 got their 18th win before their 2nd.

2010-11 was 17-2 correct? Then they lost a few in conference games in between a couple wins.